Bicycle.



Q 0 m 2 c B D d e t n e t a P S H a E u WY .w PUB H 6 2 4 6 6 o N(Application filed Mar. 26, 1898. Benewad Kay 8, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sbaat I.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 25, I900. H. 0. WEEKS.

BICYCLE.

(Application filed Mar. 25, 1896. Banewed Kay 8, 1900.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Shoat 2.

ml'mmumml W1 WITNESSES. l/Vl/E/VTOI? %zzaga fifiwzaz Z 66. s/wd BY Amrm: uomwvs PETERS w. morcxuma, wgsmnovom llnrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. WEEKS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BICYCLE.

SIBEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,826, datedDecember 25, 1900.

Application filed March 26, 1896. Renewed May 8, 1900.

serial No. 15,981. kNo model.)

To all w/"tmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. Wnnns, of New York city, in the county andState of New York, have invented a new and Improved Bicycle-Gear, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention is an improvementin bicycles in respect topropulsion-gearing and brake mechanism. The gearing is of the class thatis adapted for the application of power by the rider walking or pushingbackward with his feet upon an endless traveling belt, and the brake isadapted to be operated from and by the handle bars, which are peculiarlyarranged and geared for the purpose.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement as applied on asafety-bicycle. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional side elevation of the brakeband and adjacent parts. Fig. 4 isan enlarged sectional side elevation of the band and pulley. Fig. 5 isan enlarged sectional plan View of the mechanism for operating thebrake, the section being taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is atransverse section of the same on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

The improved bicycle-gear illustrated in the drawings is applied on anordinary safetybicycle having the ordinary main frame A, thesteering-wheel B, and the driving-wheel C. On the latter is secured asprocket-wheel D, over which passes a crossed sprocket-chain E, alsopassing over a large sprocket-wheel F, secured on a driving-shaft G, journaled in suitable bearings in the frame directly in front of thedriving-wheel O and at the foot of the vertical main or center brace ofthe frame in which the saddle-post is inserted.

On the outer end of the shaft G on opposite sides of the frame A aresecured pulleys H, over each of which passes a belt or band I, alsopassing over a large pulley J, secured on a shaft K, journaled inadjustable bearings (see Fig. 9) in the front portion of the frame A inthe rear of the steering wheel B, as plainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.The upper run of the belt or band I is inclined forwardly and upwardly,so as to form an inclined walkingsurface for the feet of the rider towalk on, and thereby propel said bands or wheels in the direction of thearrow a. In doing so a rotary motion is given to the pulleys H and shaftG, which by the sprocket wheel F, sprocket chain E, and sprocket wheel Dcauses a turning of the driving-wheel O in the direction of the arrow b,thereby propelling the machine forward.

In order to prevent slipping of the belts or bands I on the pulleys Jand H, I provide the under side of the bands or belts I with suitabletransverse ribs or teeth I, adapted to mesh in corresponding teeth J onthe periphery of the pulleys J and H. It is understood that the rider,when propelling the wheel forward in the manner described, stands withboth feet on the upper runs of the belts, and

by exerting his walkin gpower he imparts mo-.

tion alternately to the two belts by the right and left foot, so thatthe machine receives continuous impulses for propelling the machinesteadily and continuously forward.

The frame A is provided with a saddle, as indicated in Fig. l, on whichthe rider may rest, or when he desires to reduce the speed of themachine, or when he goes downhill by the momentum of the machine.

In order to give full control to the rider when he desires to stop themachine or reduce the speed, I provide a suitable brake mechanismconnected with the front shaft K. On the latter is secured abrake-pulley L, adapted to be engaged by a brake-band N, connected atits ends to opposite ends of a lever O, fulcrumed at its middle on abracket held on the frame A. The end of the lever O is connected with acord or chain P, passing under pulleys Q Q and over a pulley Q alljournaled on the main frame A, as indicated in Fig. 1. The upper end ofthe chain P is connected with a longitudinally-extending rack R, in meshwith a segmental gear-wheel S and fitted to slide longitudinally insuitable bearings in a head T carrying the stem of the handle-bars T Tfor manipulating the steering-wheel B. The handle-bars project laterallyor horizontally and are in alinement, as usual. Their adjacent innerends are curved downward and form practically vertical journals, Fig. 6,

having bearings in the head T and passing through the segmental gears,to which they are rigidly attached. The segmental gearwheel S isfastened to the stem of the handlebar T, and on the under side of saidsegmental gear-wheel S is formed or secured a second segmentalgear-wheel S, in mesh with a segmental gear-wheel S fastened on the stemof the other handle-bar T. Thus when either of the two handle-bars isturned a rotary motion is given to the segmental gear-wheel S t? shiftthe rack R longitudinally. so as to draw the brake-band N in contactwith the brakepulley L, or to release the said brake-band by moving thecorresponding handle-bar in the opposite direction.

Now it will be seen that by the arrangement described both handle-barscan be readily used for turning the steering-wheel B to the right or tothe left, according to the direction in which the machine is desired togo, and said handle-bars can also be used for applying the brakewhenever it is necessary and Whether the rider is steering or not Itwill be seen from the foregoing that the rider not only utilizes thewalking-powerof his legs, but his weight also assists in the propulsionof the machine, and the rider by pulling upon the handle-bars can add tothe power of his legs, so that the rider is enabled to propel themachine forward at a very high rate of speed.

It will be seen that by the arrangement described the rider is in anupright position while propelling the wheel, and consequently his healthis not liable to be impaired, as is so frequently the case with personsusing ordinary safety-bicycles in which a stooping position is more orless necessary.

It will be seen that in going uphill the upper run of the band is moreinclined to the horizontal, and consequently the weight of the rideracts to greater advantage. It will be seen that the weight of the riderwill act as a natural belt-tightener.

7 Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The improvedbicycle, comprising front and rear wheels, a connecting-frame havingbraces inclined downward from the head, or front, tube and thesaddle-post tube, a hanger connecting the lower ends of such braces, the

ing with and suspending such rear hanger, r the shaft arranged in thelatter and having pulleys on its extended ends, broad endless beltsrunning on the two sets of pulleys and inclined downward from front torear, and

gearin connectin the rear shaft and rear b 23 7 wheel, as shown anddescribed.

2. In a bicycle, the handle-bar proper, composed of two horizontal partshaving horizontal meshing gears arranged on the head of the machine andwith which the parts of the handle-bar are rigidly connected,respectively, a rack-bar that meshes with one of said gears, a brakemechanism, and means which connect the rack with the brake, as shown andde- 7 scribed, whereby the handle-bar is adapted to V a perform itsusual function and also apply the brake, as specified.

3. A bicycle-gear, provided with a brake mechanism comprising abrake-pulley on one of the driven shafts, a brake-band encircling saidpulley, a lever connected with the ends 7 of the band, a rope connectedwith said lover, a rack connected with said rope, and a segmentalgear-wheel in mesh with said rack and secured on one of the handle-barstems, said stems being pivoted in vertical planes, and geared togetherand projecting laterally from their respective gears, shown anddescribed.

HENRY 0. WEEKS.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. HOSTER, JAMES M. HENLEY.

785' substantially-as"

